Device and method for processing streams of sheets

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a sheet processing arrangement with a sheet processing device, at least two parallel running streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) being produced. The arrangement also has a merging device ( 11 ) for making the streams of sheets (D 1 , D 2 , E 1 , E 2 ) merge into a single stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ), the stream of sheets (F 1 , F 2 ) being fed by a chain table ( 13 ) to a further processing machine arranged downstream of the merging device ( 11).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a sheet processing arrangement for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets.

2. Description of the Background Art

Sheet processing arrangements which respectively process a stream of sheets comprising individual sheets arranged one behind the other on a running belt are known To increase the capacity of such a sheet processing arrangement, the throughput speed of the sheet processing devices forming the sheet processing arrangement may be correspondingly increased. This increases the throughput speed of the individual sheets through the entire arrangement. Since, however, the sheet-processing industry has concerned itself with this ever since its inception, further development in the area of increasing the throughput speed of the sheet processing arrangements has already been exhausted. Furthermore, with increased throughput speed, there is a rise in the noise level of the running mechanisms and mechanical wear. Another possibility for increasing the capacity of a sheet processing arrangement is to operate a number of sheet processing devices in parallel. In this case, however, a number of further processing machines are also used, which increases the production costs and, among other things, the production area that is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of providing a sheet processing arrangement of the type described at the beginning and a corresponding method with which an increase in the capacity of a sheet processing arrangement can be achieved in as simple a way as possible and with least possible effort.

This object is achieved in a sheet processing arrangement for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets by said arrangement having a sheet processing device, a merging device for making the streams of sheets merge together into a single stream of sheets and a further processing machine, arranged downstream of the merging device.

Preferred embodiments of the sheet processing arrangement are disclosed herein.

The object defined above is also achieved according to the invention in a method disclosed herein, in which all the streams of sheets are made to merge together into a single stream of sheets by the merging device, the single stream of sheets being fed to the further processing machine.

Particularly preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention are disclosed herein.

The arrangement according to the invention with the features disclosed herein has the advantage over the known approaches to a solution that the actual capacity of a sheet processing arrangement can be multiplied in a low-cost and simple manner. The same applies to the method according to the invention of an embodiment as disclosed herein, which, by comparison with customary methods for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets in a sheet processing arrangement, likewise allows a multiple increase in capacity with a reduced number of downstream further processing machines.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail on the basis of drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial side view of a sheet processing arrangement according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the production stages of a stream of sheets proceeding in a sheet processing arrangement, shown in a schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 1 of an arrangement according to the invention comprises a transporting device 1, which is configured as an angled belt table, the charging side of which, with a charging device 7, and the unloading side of which are arranged in front of an inlet into a pocket folding machine 3. A sheet 5 is transported by the charging device 7 over the transporting device 1 to the pocket folding machine 3 and is folded into a desired form in the pocket folding machine 3. Provided directly at the outlet of the pocket folding machine 3 is a separating device in the form of a cutting device (not shown), arranged along the stream of sheets, i.e. in the sheet transporting direction. However, it is possible for the separating device both to be arranged upstream of the pocket folding machine and to be integrated in the pocket folding machine. After its separation in the longitudinal direction, the sheet 5 running out of the pocket folding machine 3 passes in the form of two sheets arranged next to each other onto a transfer table 9, which comprises appropriate sheet deflectors (not shown) to limit the sideward movement of the sheets.

The output side of the transfer table 9 is functionally connected to an inlet of a merging device 11 for uniting the streams of sheets. The merging device 11 has, seen from above, a V-like arrangement, which is formed by two conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b. The longitudinally arranged fork-shaped inlet of the merging device 11 is arranged in such a way that the two parts of the separated sheets arranged next to each other pass onto the respective conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b. The outlets, arranged on the right in FIG. 1, of the conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b are arranged one above the other and displaced with respect to each other in the direction of the stream of sheets, so that the individual sheets pass one after the other onto a chain table 13, similar to a conveyor line, arranged under the outlets of the conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b. The stream of sheets taken over by the chain table 13 subsequently passes to a further processing machine (not shown). A thread sealing machine, a thread stitching machine or an envelope-filling machine may be used as the further processing machine. The running speed of the conveyor lines of the merging device 11 is set with respect to the running speed of the chain table 13 in such a way that the sheets leaving the merging device 11 in the single stream of sheets on the chain table 13 are at a predetermined distance from one another.

It goes without saying that any desired sheet processing device may be used instead of the pocket folding machine 3, such as for example a sheet-fed printing machine, a web-fed printing machine with cross-cutter, an unwinding device with cross-cutter or the like.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the stages in the sequence which a stream of sheets undergoes in a sheet processing arrangement according to the invention. The sheet material, denoted by A, is fed to the sheet processing arrangement in the form of a continuous band and subsequently divided into individual sheets B, the individual sheets B being arranged one behind the other in their running direction and forming a primary stream of sheets. The separation of the band material A into individual sheets B takes place upstream of the pocket folding unit 3, so that, after they have run through, the sheets have a correspondingly folded form C. Directly downstream, the folded sheets C are divided in the middle in their running direction into two sheets D1 and D2, arranged next to each other. The sheets D1 and D2 arranged next to each other are then transferred in the course of their continuing movement in two streams of sheets to the merging device 11. The sequence of movements of the sheets D1 and D2 originally arranged next to each other is denoted in FIG. 2 by E. A V -or Y-shaped arrangement of the conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b and the fact that the outlets of the conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b are arranged at different heights allow the sheets E transported on them to be displaced with respect to one another into a linear arrangement. Different running speeds of the conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b contribute to making the individual sheets E1 and E2 become arranged one behind the other in the running direction in the course of the movement on the merging device 11. In this way, two parallel running streams of sheets can be made to merge together into a single stream of sheets by the merging device 11. The sheets E1 and E2 leaving the merging device 11 pass onto the chain table 13, the receiving surface of which moves at an increased speed, for example about twice the speed, in comparison with the primary stream B. The running speed of the conveyor lines 11 a and 11 b can be set with respect to the running speed of the chain table 13 in such a way that the sheets F1 and F2 in the single stream of sheets on the chain table 13 are arranged at a predetermined distance from one another.

It is also possible to arrange a number of sheet processing devices next to one another, so that the overall capacity is once again multiplied. Such an arrangement allows a multiple stream of sheets that has been converted into a single stream of sheets to be made to merge together in such a way that they can be further processed by a single downstream further processing machine. 

1. A sheet processing arrangement for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2), the arrangement having a sheet processing device (3), a merging device (11), arranged downstream of the sheet processing device (3), for making the streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) merge together into a single stream of sheets (F1, F2) and a further processing machine, arranged downstream of the merging device (11).
 2. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the merging device (11) is preceded by a separating device, which divides a primary stream of sheets (B) into at least two streams of sheets (D1, D2).
 3. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the further processing machine has a chain table (13) for taking over the single stream of sheets (F1, F2).
 4. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the merging device (11) is formed by at least two conveyor lines (11 a, 11 b) arranged at least partially one over the other.
 5. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which the running speed of the conveyor lines (11 a, 11 b) of the merging device (11) can be set with respect to the running speed of the chain table (13) in such a way that the sheets (F1, F2) in the single stream of sheets on the chain table (13) are at a predetermined distance from one another.
 6. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the sheet processing device is a sheet-fed printing machine, a web-fed printing machine with cross-cutter or an unwinding device with cross-cutter.
 7. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the sheet processing device is a folding machine (3).
 8. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the further processing machine is a thread sealing machine, a thread stitching machine or an envelope-filling machine.
 9. A method for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) in a sheet processing arrangement with a sheet processing device (3), a merging device (11), arranged downstream of the sheet processing device (3), and a further processing machine, arranged downstream of the merging device (11), in which method all the streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) are made to merge together into a single stream of sheets (F1, F2) in the merging device (11), the single stream of sheets (F1, F2) being fed to the further processing machine.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, in which a primary stream of sheets (B) is divided into at least two streams of sheets (D1, D2) by means of a separating device arranged upstream of the merging device (11).
 11. The method as claimed in claim 9, in which the single stream of sheets (F1, F2) is fed to the further processing machine by means of a chain table (13).
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, in which the number of streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) are fed to the chain table (13) by means of at least two conveyor lines (11 a, 11 b) arranged at least partially one over the other and forming the merging device (11).
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, in which the running speed of the conveyor lines (11 a, 11 b) is set with respect to the running speed of the chain table (13) in such a way that the sheets (F1, F2) in the single stream of sheets on the chain table (13) are arranged at a predetermined distance from one another. 